Notes, quotes and observations from today’s OTA

Naturally, cornerback D.J. Hayden being hospitalized with an abdominal issue is the big news concerning the Raiders today. However, there is plenty to talk about in terms of what transpired at practice today.
For starters, coach Dennis Allen said he wasn’t thrilled by the way his players practiced today. He attributed some of that to the fact the players were away the past four days and needed to shake off the rust.
“It was obvious that we had the long (layoff) with Memorial Day weekend,” Allen said. “I don’t think we were as crisp as we needed to be in practice today. We only get a certain amount of opportunities and we didn’t practice the way that we needed to today.
“The good news is the guys are still out there, they’re competing and they’re trying to do everything we’re asking them to do to get better.”
Quarterback Matt Flynn said he and his teammates didn’t need to be told that they need to do better than they did today. As Allen said, Flynn and the others have Wednesday and Thursday to get back in synch and keep progressing in a positive way.

— Al Davis despised the word “rebuilding.” He was fond of saying, “We don’t rebuild, we reload.” Count Allen among those that doesn’t warm to the dreaded “R” word, as well.
“I wouldn’t use the term rebuilding,” Allen said. “We’re trying to win. That’s what you do in this league. You try to win football games. We’re going to do whatever we feel like we need to do to try to do that. I do think we’ve brought in some pieces that will help us in that regard.”
Reaching the desired goal of building a championship-caliber team is going to take time, Allen admits. Bringing in veteran players such as cornerbacks Charles Woodson and Porter that have played for Super Bowl teams is a huge help.
“The teams that have success, eventually, at some point in time, the players take over,” Allen said. “When they understand the commitment that it takes to have success in this league and to win in this league, and figure out how to do that on a consistent basis, those guys have to understand what the expectations are.
“When their expectations of themselves are equal to or greater to what our expectations of them as coaches are then that’s when you got them. I don’t think we’re there yet. But we’re moving in that direction.”

— Speaking of Woodson, he donned a Raiders uniform on the practice field Tuesday for the first time since his first Raiders stint ended after the 2005 season.
No, he’s not wearing No. 24. Yet. For now, Porter still owns the rights to the number Woodson wore during his first eight seasons with the Raiders. Woodson wore a black shirt without a number Tuesday.
“We got him out there in a limited role, and he’s still feeling his way around a little bit,” Allen said. “I don’t have any concerns that he’ll be ready to roll. We’ll kind of work him in a little bit. We’ll kind of work him in a little more as we keep going.”
Woodson signed with the Raiders last week, even though he had an opportunity to sign with the Denver Broncos. Allen said that’s another sign that the Raiders are headed in the right direction.
“In talking with Charles when he came in on the visit, it was apparent to me that he wanted to be a part of the Raiders,” Allen said. “This is a tradition rich organization, and he can see some of the things that we’re doing to try to get back to those winning ways. At the end of the day as a player, a coach or whatever, you want to have a vision for success. We’re putting some of those pieces together.”
Woodson said Allen and general manager Reggie McKenzie sold him on the Raiders during their visit last week.
“I was really sold on the fact that they believe on the guys that they have here,” Woodson said. “Of course, you can always use more and as the years come up, they’ll be able to do some more things. But they really have a lot of faith in the guys that they have on the roster right now.
“Who knows what this team will be at the end of the season, but I was convinced that this team will compete, this team will be in games, and we look forward to going out there and wearing the silver and black proudly.”
The warm reception Woodson received from fans at the Alameda facility the day he visited reaffirmed his faith in the Raider Nation.
“I know what it’s like to have this fan base behind you,” Woodson said, who played for the Raiders from 1998-2005. “That’s a big deal. There’s a lot of energy here. A lot of these guys don’t know that, they don’t know that feeling to be that type of team here and have the fans behind you. To have the fans here at the facility last week welcoming me back meant a lot and I appreciate Raider Nation for that. ”

— Lucas Nix got a shot at showing what he can do at left guard with the first-team offense today. Last week, it was Tony Bergstrom running with the ones.
It’s all part of offensive line coach Tony Sparano’s grand plan to take a look at every player available to him before deciding upon a starting five.
“We’re going to mix and match a little bit and Lucas and Tony were both two young guys that we wanted to look at on the interior of our offensive line,” Allen said. “Both of them have done a nice job so far. It was kind of his day to be up with the ones.”
In reality, it’s likely that several of the spots already are sewn up — left offensive tackle Jared Veldheer, center Stefen Wisniewski and right guard Mike Brisiel. However, it’s conceivable that rookie Menelik Watson might push veteran Khalif Barnes for the starting spot at right offensive tackle.
At one point, Nix got scolded for leaving before the snap. Hey, better now than in the regular-season opener, right?

— Nick Roach said he doesn’t view this season as him getting his first shot to prove what he can do. Others might see it that way, but Roach already feels confident in his ability to be a full-time starter despite starting more than nine games only three of his six seasons with the Chicago Bears.
Allen likes what he has seen from Roach in a short time, as Roach goes about making people forget about his predecessor, Rolando McClain.
“He’s brought what we anticipated he would bring,” Allen said. “He’s a veteran guy that, he’s never really had the opportunity to say, this is his time to run the show. He’s getting that opportunity here.
“He’s done an outstanding job so far. He’s very intelligent, does a great job of running the huddle for us and getting us into the right checks and the right defenses and it’s still early in the offseason but I’ve been pleased with what he’s done so far.”

— Quarterback play was a mixed bag today, with just as much bad as good from Flynn, Tyler Wilson and Terrelle Pryor.
Flynn said some of that can be chalked up to the coaches throwing a bunch of new stuff at him and his quarterback mates, as well as working on red-zone plays for the first time.
Still, Flynn said, there’s only so much time for learning. Before long, the quarterbacks have to be up to speed and ready to execute better.
Case in point, Wilson looked pretty sharp in a lot of early drills. Then, in the red-zone work, he had passes intercepted on back-to-back plays.
Even so, Allen said, it’s Flynn’s job to lose.
“Matt’s our starting quarterback as we go forward right now,” Allen said, “and until the competition dictates otherwise, that’s where we’re going.”
Flynn said he isn’t worried about how well Wilson and Pryor perform. He said he has enough to worry about competing himself.

— Allen made it clear that he isn’t one to heap too much praise on rookies, especially after only four practices. Yet, he doesn’t hesitate finding good things to say about running back Latavius Murray.
“Probably the thing that’s been most impressive is that he’s picked up everything offensively from a schematic standpoint, assignment wise,” Allen said. “He’s done a great job. He’s done a nice job in pass protection. That’s one of the things you see with young backs that they struggle with at times.”
Murray seems to excel in just about every facet. At one point today, he was returning kicks. Don’t make too much of that, though. Several players returned kicks today, and it’s a stretch to envision that role going to anyone other than Jacoby Ford or Cribbs.
Still, it speaks to Murray’s versatility that he can return kicks if needed and that he is willing to do whatever it takes to make the 53-man roster.

here is the part where dan 78 and others now accuse me of racism although i am actually the one pointing out the racist

>. just stop. you ruin this blog MR. we’re all tired of your bullsh*t
*************************************
Are you just as tired of Dr Dudes crap who seems to be omnipresent in here? Of course not because he speaks YOUR langage. He is absolutely tolerable in here. You guys are a joke!

he is a known cross poster that hi jacks handles and creates handles to argue with or agree with himself

>> YOU are MR everybody knows so go fuk urself and have a nice day. stop spamming this blog, talk some football or GTFO
==========

another one of mr’s handles

this dude will sign in with 5-6 different handles at a time?!?

one sick puppy

>. I have posted under this handle for years, before the mistic troll ever appeared. i know who u are MR. just talk football it is a FOOTBALL blog. go chat on yahoo if u want politics. is that not reasonable?
**********
MR has had dozens of handles he’s used, for years and years.
He has sat here for hours on end having long convo’s with himself. Even getting into long debates, when he then proclaims himself the victor.
MR has always claimed to be a know it all.

Who does that remind u of?
LOL. Yep, Dr Rob

dr_robert

I WANT u to spend all ur time focused on me MR.

Spend all ur time trying to be me.

It’s hilarious.

bcz24

Truly Is…I haven’t gotten his book yet, I have been putting it off, but I am going to get it, just not sure when. Did you get him to sign yours? I know he does that for everyone, you just gotta send it to him.
******************
Nah, I don’t care if it’s signed or not. I’m not an autograph collector type. Just not my thing. Definitely a good read, and the accompanying DVD helps you through it too.

he is a known cross poster that hi jacks handles and creates handles to argue with or agree with himself

>> YOU are MR everybody knows so go fuk urself and have a nice day. stop spamming this blog, talk some football or GTFO
==========

another one of mr’s handles

this dude will sign in with 5-6 different handles at a time?!?

one sick puppy

>. I have posted under this handle for years, before the mistic troll ever appeared. i know who u are MR. just talk football it is a FOOTBALL blog. go chat on yahoo if u want politics. is that not reasonable?
**********
MR has had dozens of handles he’s used, for years and years.
He has sat here for hours on end having long convo’s with himself. Even getting into long debates, when he then proclaims himself the victor.
MR has always claimed to be a know it all.

U obviously are jealous of me and plan on “ruining” my name no matter how it ruins the blog.
==============================
That made me lmfao, ruining your name? Worrying about its blog personality, classic.

realtruraider

RaiderRockstar Says:
May 29th, 2013 at 12:08 pm
I couldn’t think of anyone better to break the JayPaycheck #2 curse than Woodson.

what about Rashad Jennings & Jeremy Stewart?
—————————
I have my money on Murray being the #2 going into the season and starting for 12 weeks once McFadden gets injured.
*****************************************
Great point! DMC’s days are numbered LM is no joke. When you see him you will be like man give this guy the rock and lets roll.

He and Reece will make it easier for DMC to stay healthy. My contention all along is we relied to heavily on DMC but everyone argued against it until he started getting injured like I said he would Now his approval rating is nil. Like I said it would be if they overused him.

here is the part where dan 78 and others now accuse me of racism although i am actually the one pointing out the racist

>. just stop. you ruin this blog MR. we’re all tired of your bullsh*t
*************************************
Are you just as tired of Dr Dudes crap who seems to be omnipresent in here? Of course not because he speaks YOUR langage. He is absolutely tolerable in here. You guys are a joke!

>> i wasn’t talking to you, mind your business old man go play some bingo and stop infecting me with your senility.

here is the part where dan 78 and others now accuse me of racism although i am actually the one pointing out the racist

>. just stop. you ruin this blog MR. we’re all tired of your bullsh*t
*************************************
Are you just as tired of Dr Dudes crap who seems to be omnipresent in here? Of course not because he speaks YOUR langage. He is absolutely tolerable in here. You guys are a joke!
=====================
Loosen up that asshat you’re wearing pigrim. They are both as equally disliked by the majority of the people that post to this blog.

lately you haven’t brought much to this blog either, well other than ranting away, as if you are some football expert.

dr_robert

I asked cork to ban all dr robert names and he said he would but hasn’t done it yet obviously.

Hmm. I hate to give in to the psycho but maybe ill just find another handle so he will disappear.

As a blog courtesy. The sad creature will still be here but at least it will end this latest weirdness.

The Original Beeeeech Diggity Dawg

YO YO YO THE DAWG IS BARK AND READY TO BARK WOOF

Whut up Blog Goobs, sweet High 5s all around, wizzle fresh

Seems as though Nob Bust, quivering in fear, cried to that his idol Cork to get the Dawg banned

Krappy, please help Nob find his way around your weak Rat Kingdom. Don’t forget the lesson about Krapping in your drawers and running for the hillz as soon as the Dawg starts barking, whut whut

Anyway Homies, as you all know, awesomeness always triumphs over lameness, and the Dawg is here to protect the good, decent people of the bloggy blog blog

Nob Rat, you though the daily meltdowns inflicted upon you by the Dawg couldn’t get any worse, huh

We’re about to take this jam TO THE NEXT LEVEL

LIKE HELLA DANG

MikieG

bcz24 Says:
May 29th, 2013 at 12:43 pm

Truly Is…I haven’t gotten his book yet, I have been putting it off, but I am going to get it, just not sure when. Did you get him to sign yours? I know he does that for everyone, you just gotta send it to him.
******************
Nah, I don’t care if it’s signed or not. I’m not an autograph collector type. Just not my thing. Definitely a good read, and the accompanying DVD helps you through it too.
++++++++++

It would be nice if it was required reading in order to Post on this Blog–people would actually discuss football for a change instead of working on insanely offensive racist rants. Regardless, I played it my whole life up to DII so I know what Pat and Tim are talking about–however, I would still always like to know more.

KoolKell Says:
May 29th, 2013 at 12:44 pm
I wonder if this person is comfined to a wheelchair or something? Never seems to get out.

———–

Comfined? Old Troll, you got cotton candy stuck in your teeth again?

Mistic1 Tha Supavillain

@ priestt

I saw nfl top 10 most elusive players the other night and Randall Cunningham was on the list!!

made me think is pryor the next randall?

Cunningham was by far the best running qb of his day and also came into the nfl with so called accuracy issues. In fact he never completed more than 62% of his pass in college. He was wasted in philly but once he hooked up with denny green showed he could be a very very good passer.

It seems pryor is already a more polished passer than randall was at the same stage of their careers.

Do you think the offense will look very different with when pryor is on the field?

do you think play action and deep passing will be a staple with pryor, and would that give him the advantage in the qb race?

Dan78

KoolKell Says:
May 29th, 2013 at 12:44 pm
I wonder if this person is comfined to a wheelchair or something? Never seems to get out.
******
Congratulations You Have been Awarded Post Of The Day…

Marks hair

its not my thing. but you draw it on to yourself. normally only the shít talkers and trolls get there name stolen.. you obviously got someone’s attention

realtruraider

And The Dawg Is Out…ruff ruff ruff..ruff

The Original Beeeeech Diggity Dawg

Dr_robert Says:
May 29th, 2013 at 12:53 pm
Oh great. The gay porn guy is here. And people like it.

Later.

———————

Nob Rat, you’re smart to run as fast as those skinny legs can carry you

You’ve sunk as low as a minion can sink – Rat status – and the Dawg and his legion of Blog Brahs will have no mercy. It’s ON, Rat.

But speaking of my boy band 2 Kewl 4 Skool, you KNOW we’re getting ready to drop some fresh jamz this Summer

Working on a song now that will take you back to the day you made out with your weiner in the back of your parents Lincoln Towncar

Marks Hair Says:
May 29th, 2013 at 12:55 pm
its not my thing. but you draw it on to yourself. normally only the shít talkers and trolls get there name stolen.. you obviously got someone’s attention
*******
Obviously.

Question is why would anyone care to do it?

Oh who cares. I’m bored now.

The Original Beeeeech Diggity Dawg

Realtruraider Says:
May 29th, 2013 at 12:57 pm
And The Dawg Is Out…ruff ruff ruff..ruff

———

DEM DAWGS B BARKIN’
WOOF 2 THA WIZZLE

dr_robert

Willy91137 Says:
May 29th, 2013 at 1:03 pm
The good Dr. Roberts has posted 17 times in the last 30 min.

and you know he said nothing

not talking about football just blabbing away

when the troll
******
When the troll.

Priesttj12

If the Raiders were smart which is a stretch, I would play Murray and Reece a lot and save DMC for late in the year and use him for specific things like certain opponents and certain times in games. Murray is 230 and just as fast when he gets going he is a poor mans Eric Dickerson and will strike you.

However Murray is also injuriy prone which is where Reece comes in. Reece is the most versatile of them and is a matchup nightmare. Hue Jackson knew how to use him so the defense could gage him and that is why he had soo many big plays.

If they can work Ausberry into the starting lineup this offense could surprise. Flynn is a dink and dunk QB which is fine when you consider the talent around him. On the other hand if Pryor can get comfortable by the 3rd preseason game and can win the job this becomes an exciting dynamic offense that would be traveling nightmare. It would present such an array of big play capabilities. We could win some games against teams who are clearly better than us. Pryor IMO could buy this team 2-3 wins just on his skillset. The Raiders lack the insight and creativity to capitolize on it though. Flynn excites NO ONE, Wilson is just tooo green at present our only chance of surprising a few teams is if Pryor WINS that job.

dr_robert

It’s crazy town in here. Time for me to fly. Enjoy the asylum boys.

R8ER MIKE

Willy.. i love ya brother, but ya gotta do some spell checking once in a while. think you have some good points. but damn they hard to figure out sometimes.

Texas N THA HOUSE!
Whut up Brah, time to take this jam 2 THA NEXT LEVEL

Oh yeah and last week I got a herpe on my ding dong from this wasted stripper. Been soaking it in frozen Daiquiri all morning, should be good as new by supper

DutchRaider77

@Priesttj12

Could you see a lot of two back sets?

I want to see McFadden used like Hue used Reece…motion him out as an receiver. Let Reece run the ball also…

ohioraider

willy91137 Says:
May 29th, 2013 at 1:06 pm

yes when the troll when will the troll shot up
——————————–
The troll is chirped ain’t he Willy?

willy91137

Thank you reader Mike but I make more sense than Dr. Roberts

Mistic1 Tha Supavillain

Priesttj12 Says:
May 29th, 2013 at 1:04 pm

If the Raiders were smart which is a stretch, I would play Murray and Reece a lot and save DMC for late in the year and use him for specific things like certain opponents and certain times in games. Murray is 230 and just as fast when he gets going he is a poor mans Eric Dickerson and will strike you.

However Murray is also injuriy prone which is where Reece comes in. Reece is the most versatile of them and is a matchup nightmare. Hue Jackson knew how to use him so the defense could gage him and that is why he had soo many big plays.

If they can work Ausberry into the starting lineup this offense could surprise. Flynn is a dink and dunk QB which is fine when you consider the talent around him. On the other hand if Pryor can get comfortable by the 3rd preseason game and can win the job this becomes an exciting dynamic offense that would be traveling nightmare. It would present such an array of big play capabilities. We could win some games against teams who are clearly better than us. Pryor IMO could buy this team 2-3 wins just on his skillset. The Raiders lack the insight and creativity to capitolize on it though. Flynn excites NO ONE, Wilson is just tooo green at present our only chance of surprising a few teams is if Pryor WINS that job.
===============

agreed

I think almost all of our pass catchers and rbs are made to run like the wind. it makes no sense to me to have a qb that cant threaten the defense deep with this team.

I think the only place you and i differ on this is i would use the pistol and let every play start with the option action/ look.

get the defense to hesitate and bite then let pryor and the our speed burners punish the defense for guessing wrong

this would also create huge holes for dmac and committee to run

the threat of pryor keeping will be enough own the afc west

willy91137

priest I agree with you- I said a long time ago we said use the pistol